FISD
Tax
Ratification
Election

A TRE is a special election to approve an increase in a district’s Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate above $1.04. The school board has the authority to levy an M&O tax rate up to $1.04 but any increase above that amount requires voter approval. On June 13, the Board adopted an M&O tax rate of $1.13, an increase of 9 cents, and lowered the I&S rate by 7 cents for an overall tax rate increase of 2 cents. Since the M&O amount is greater than $1.04 voter approval is required.

The District’s tax rate is composed of two parts:Maintenance and Operations (M&O) tax rate and the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate.

The M&O fund pays for day to day district operations such as payroll, utilities, and maintenance of schools and facilities. The I&S fund is used to make payments on district bonds much like the principal and interest on a home mortgage.

Currently, the District’s tax rate is $1.367 ($1.04 for M&O and $.327 for I&S). The board adopted a tax rate of $1.387 ($1.13 for M&O and $.257 for I&S) for 2016.

This tax rate increase will be used to balance the budget, which includes a $1500 salary increase for teachers.

The Board reduced the debt service tax rate by 7 cents and increased the operations tax rate by 9 cents for an overall increase of 2 cents.
The adopted tax rate is $1.387 ($1.13 for M&O and $.257 for I&S).

Voter approval is required to increase the M&O tax rate above a $1.04. The board adopted $1.13, a 9 cent increase above last year’s M&O rate. At the same time, the board lowered the debt service tax rate by 7 cents; therefore, the total tax rate increase will be 2 cents.

No. Many districts tax above $1.04 in order to meet the educational needs of their students. FISD has not increased its M&O tax rate since 2002 (14 years ago). As local revenue increases from higher appraisals, state funding decreases. The only increase to funding is through increased student enrollment/attendance, increased tax rates, or changes in state funding.

No. Not all districts are alike and the formula funding system is not entirely equitable. Recently, the state Supreme Court ruled that the funding system is constitutional but broken. If Friendswood received the same amount of funding per pupil as surrounding districts, the financial position would be significantly better. See the comparison chart below.

No. Increased revenue the District collects from higher values essentially accrues to the state. In other words, if the District collects more in local taxes due to increased values, then the state contributes less to the District.

Yes. In 2014, Superintendent Trish Hanks surveyed parents asking what they valued most in Friendswood ISD. The number one answer was safety followed closely by recruiting and retaining quality teachers. As a result, in FY 2014-15 a study was completed of FISD teacher salaries in comparison to surrounding districts.

Superintendent Hanks recommended a restructured teacher salary schedule with an average 5.32% increase in 2015-16 and a $1500 increase for 2016-17 to make FISD teachers’ salaries more competitive.

Hundreds of communities across the state have already completed the TRE process to meet the needs of students and schools. Galveston ISD and Texas City ISD have both had successful TREs in the last two years.

FRIENDSWOOD ISD ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE. THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.82 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $90.00.